Yeah, it is a bit orangey. I actually warmed up the pic a little. The white balance originally looked very cold indeed, and just didn't fit with the subject. That said, the background itself is also a bit orangey.. you can see here:
http://ukct.net/dlfiles/uploads/SamStuff/DSC_0090.jpg it's the duvet that makes up the background in the first pic.
A vertical grip is a must, for sure. I've been well blessed, both the F4s and the D1x come with vertical grip/release, and it does make a colossal difference to your psyche.. you automatically rotate the camera (even though I didn't in the first pic, I know!
) when composing a shot, if it suits.. no contortion necessary.
You obviously have a lot more confidence than I do.. I can't take people photos, even though I would love to. I'm far too self-conscious.. and I can't bear the thought of people thinking I'm just a belts, buckles and gadgets freak - or a paparazzi-wannabe, perhaps. I've known too many oddball photographers over the years that exude something of a sleazy air, too. Some really strange middle-aged blokes. God forbid anyone regard me like that! LOL!
Instead, I pursue my other passion most of the time, and hunt out landscapes and architecture. I have a fascination for old buildings that are being gradually reclaimed by nature - I think that developed while reading Ted Hughes poetry, years ago. I drove thousands of miles around the midwest, from Ohio to Iowa, Wisconsin to Missouri, looking for old barns and rusting farm machinery to photograph. The Yorkshire Dales and Cumbria are good locations for that, too